OR,

An Attempt to Elucidate some of the more Obscure Armorial Bearings, principally the Mottoes used by many of the Scottish Families.

In a Letter to the Earl of Leicester, President of the Society of Antiquaries,

"Arma Viramque."

There seems to be something peculiarly significant and quaint in the greatest part of the Mottoes and Devices used by the Scottish Nobility, and perhaps in those of many Families of inferior Rank; though these last do not so easily come under our observation.

My intention is, to trouble your Lordship with my thoughts on a few of these Mottoes (as we call them); and refer to your extensive knowledge in the science of Heraldry, and your love of investigation, for the rest of these obscure impreses.

We must, however, distinguish between the Motto and the Slug horn (or, as Sir George Mackenzie gives it, upon the more Southern pronunciation, Slogan[282]); the latter being a cry de guerre, whereas the former (though one may sometimes answer both purposes) seems more to relate to some historical circumstance by which the Family have been signalized. The original idea of these words, I have no doubt, related to War, and operated as what we now call the Watch-Word, and more emphatically the Word by the circulation of which the King can, at this day, call his guards about him, as the Chiefs of Scotland formerly assembled their Vassals in their respective divisions or clans. The French call it a Mot; and the Italians, by an augmentation, Motto; which last we have adopted when we speak in an heraldic style. The true Scottish term is a Ditton, the Slughorn being properly the cry de Guerre. Not to go into the antiquity of Mottoes, or Armory, further than the subject in question shall lead me, I shall content myself with observing that Armorial Bearings in general, with us in England, have little more than the fancy of the party, with Heraldic sanction, for their foundation; or some distant allusion to the name. Take one singular instance of this last case, which Mr. Boyer (in his Theatre of Honour) gives, as a whimsical bearing. The Arms of the name of Matthias are three Dice (sixes as the highest throw), having, I make no doubt (though Mr. Boyer gives no reason for it), a reference to the election of St. Matthias into the Apostleship: "And the lot fell upon Matthias." One of the writers in the Antiquarian Discourses (Mr. Agarde) thinks the old Motto of the Caves, of Stanford, in Northamptonshire, a happy conceit; the ancient Crest being a Grey-hound currant, with a label issuing out of its mouth, with these words, "Adsum; Cave." Had the CavÈ stood alone, without the Dog or the Adsum, it might have been very well, and have operated religiously, morally, or politically: but otherwise the Dog seems to run away with the Wit. The Family, since Mr. Agarde's time, appear to have been sensible of this awkward compound, and have adopted the French word Gardez for the Motto; though I think they had better have kept the CavÈ (as I have observed), and hanged the Grey-hound; though perhaps it was conceived at the time the Adsum was dropped, that Ca-vÈ, in the Latin, might be confounded with the English, Cave; and that it would have appeared as if they had taken the name for the Motto, without another Latin word to denote that language; and therefore might take Gardez, which shews itself to be French.

Mr. Agarde's own Motto is much more apposite to his name; which, he tells us at the end of his Memoir, was, Dieu me Garde; but at the same time this would have admitted of improvement; for the French verb Garder was originally Agarder, which, had he known it, would have enabled him to have made the pun complete—Dieu m'Agarde.

Before I quit the subject in general, I cannot help mentioning a bon mot of a friend of mine (and he has so much wit that I shall not rob him in the least by the repetition), on his visiting Chatsworth, to see the house. The Motto of the noble owner is, as your Lordship well knows, Cavendo Tutus, to which the Family has happily adhered in their Political concerns. The state rooms in that house are floored with old oak, waxed, and very slippery, in consequence of which my friend had very near fallen down; when, recovering his equilibrium, he observed, "that he rather supposed the Motto related to the floors than the name."

But it is time to lead to the matter I proposed, viz. the Scottish Mottoes; and yet, before I proceed to them, I wish to premise something on the grounds of a few of the Armorial Bearings among the most ancient Scottish Families, which have originated from History.

The principal Family of the name of
Douglas

carries "A Man's Heart Gules," as a fixed principal Charge, because the Good Sir James Douglas, as he is styled, carried the Heart of King Robert I. (of the name of Bruce) to Jerusalem, and there interred it[283]. The original Coat Armour of Douglas was, "Azure, in chief Three Stars Argent[284]." The Heart is now imperially crowned; but that is a later introduction[285], not borne at least by those who merely quartered the Arms.

Campbell,

Duke of Argyle, Marquis of Lorn, &c. bears in the Second and Third Quarters (for the Lordship of Lorn) a Feudal Charge of "Or, a Limphad (or small Ship) Sable, with Flames of Fire issuing out of the Top of the Mast, and from the Fore and Hindermost Parts of the Ship:" which Fire, says my Author, was called in old blazonry St. Anthony's Fire. The reason is, that, as the Territory lay upon the Coast, this Bearing was indicative of the Tenure by which the Lands were held in capite; viz. by supplying a Ship with twenty Oars in time of War, if required. The Reddendum runs, for the provision of "Unam navem viginti Remorum, si petatur, tempore Belli, &c."[286]

By Marriage, this Lordship, after many generations, came into the Family of Campbell, then Earl of Argyle; but, in process of time, the Flames issuing from the Ship have been extinguished.

This was not an uncommon Armorial Appendage to other Feudal Lords, and Lordships similarly situated.

Thus the Arms of the Isle of Arran are, "Argent, a Ship, with its Sails furled, Sable."

The Earls of Orkney and Caithness have the Bearing of a Ship for the like reason; being Lordships, or Feudal Earldoms, situate on the Coast; but with Differences.

The Earl of Orkney (and from thence the Earl of Caithness) bears a Ship of a more modern form, with three Masts; but it has the honour of being within a double Tressure, counter-fleured, to shew its connexion with Royalty.

Drummond

carries, "Or, Three Bars wavy Gules." This simple Bearing, we are told, involves a Piece of History; for that an Hungarian Gentleman, of the name of Maurice, in the Reign of Malcolm III. had the command of a Ship in which Edgar Atheline, his Mother Agatha, and his Sisters Margaret and Christian, were embarked, in their return from England to Hungary. A Storm arose, and drove them on the Coast of Scotland, where they were landed in the Frith of Forth, and entertained by the King, who afterwards married Margaret. This Maurice so ingratiated himself with King Malcolm, that he was solicited by the King to settle in Scotland, which he did, and had grants of many Lands; and particularly those at Drymen or Drummond, of which last he took the name. Drummond, as we must now call him, was afterwards appointed Seneschal of Lenox; and the King assigned him the above Arms, alluding to his original Profession of a Naval Officer, and in memory of his having conducted the then Queen safe through the Storm into the Port in Scotland[287].

Seton Earl of Winton.

The Paternal Arms of Seton, afterwards Earls of Winton, were Crescents, for which no particular reason appears: but the Lords of Seton have for some hundreds of years carried, "Or, a Sword erected in pale, supporting an Imperial Crown Proper, betwixt Three Crescents within a Double Tressure, counter-fleured, Gules." This honourable Augmentation was granted by Robert the Bruce to his Nephew Sir Alexander Seton, of that Ilk, for the special and seasonable services performed by him and his Father Sir Christopher to that Monarch during the time of his troubles. Sir Christopher Seton, it seems, had lost two Estates of great value, one in Scotland, the other in England, together with his Life, in the Service of his King and Country; upon which account King Robert (whose Sister, Christian Bruce, Sir Christopher had married), when he had overcome his Enemies, restored his Nephew, Sir Alexander Seton, to the Lands in Scotland which his Father had lost, though he could not re-possess him of the English Estate; granted the Augmentation of the Sword and Crown to his Paternal Coat-Armour, to perpetuate their gallant Actions; and added the Double Tressure, which at that time was given to none but such as had married, or were descended from, Daughters of the Blood-Royal[288]. One branch of the Family, viz. Sir Alexander Seton of Pitwedden (at one time a Lord of Session), upon the event of the death of his Father, who, in the Reign of King Charles I. (during the Civil Commotions) was killed by a Shot from the King's Enemies, with a Banner in his hand, assumed the Armorial Bearing of "An Heart distilling Drops of Blood[289]."

These, my Lord, I offer in the line of Nobility, as Historical Bearings; but many may likewise be found among the Gentry, who have Armorial Devices allusive to gallant actions, high employments, or other honourable circumstances.

Of those, the few that follow, most easily occur, from the works of that laborious Herald, Mr. Alexander Nisbet.

Graham

of Inchbrackie, descended of an eldest Son, of a second Marriage, of the first Earl of Montrose, gives, "Or, a Dyke [or Wall] fess-wise, Azure, broken down in several parts, &c." The Dyke there is assumed, to difference the Bearer from his Chief, and to perpetuate that action of Gramus (one of the Predecessors of the noble Family of Graham) in pulling down the Wall [anno 420] built by the Roman Emperor Severus, which was thereafter called "Graham's Dyke."

N. B. By the Dyke the Scots seem to mean the Wall, i.e. the Vallum, which is formed out of the Dyke.

Clark

of Pennycuik. Sir John Clark, of Pennycuik, had this Motto, "Free for a Blast," which is explained in part by the Crest, which is a Man blowing a Horn: but for both the Crest itself, and the Motto, we must look into the Tenure of the Estate, which they derived, most probably by Marriage, from the Pennycuiks of that Ilk, an old Family in Mid-Lothian, who bore "Or, a Fess between Three Hunting Horns Sable, stringed Gules;" and, by the ancient Tenure of their Lands, were obliged, once a year, to attend in the Forest of Drumsleich, since called Barrowmuir, to give a Blast of a Horn at the King's Hunting.

The Clarks, holding by the same Tenure, preserved the Motto.

Kirkpatrick,

who gave the last Blow to Cummin, supposed to have been slain, cried out, "Lest he should not be quite dead, I will secure him," and stabbed him with his Dagger. Hence the Family took the Crest of "A Hand holding a Dagger in Pale, distilling Drops of Blood;" and with the Motto "I'll make sicker (sure);" or, "I'll make sure."[290]

Carrick.

Stewart, Earl of Carrick. The Paternal Arms of Stewart, out of which was a Lion naissant, all within a Double Tressure, counter-fleured Gules: the Lion naissant intimating his original right to the Crown[291].

Farquharson,

of Invercald, carries, in addition to his Paternal Coat, "Argent, a Fir Tree growing out of a Mount Proper on a Chief Gules,—the Banner of Scotland in Bend, and on a Canton of the first (viz. Or), a Dexter Hand couped at the wrist, grasping a Dagger, point downwards, Gules." Mr. Nisbet says[292], they carried the Fir Trees because their Country abounded with such Trees; the Hand grasping a Dagger, for killing the Cumming; and the Banner is lately added, because the Grand-father of the present John Farquharson (1702) was killed at the Battle of Pinkie, carrying the Banner of Scotland.

Wood.

The Chiefs of this name have given Trees in different forms; but Wood of Largoe placed his Tree between Two Ships under sail, as Admiral to King James III. and IV. in whose reigns he defeated the English with an inferior Force. Another Branch of the Family gave a Hunting-horn hanging upon the Branch of a Tree, to shew he was the King's Forester[293].

Forbes,

of Watertown, charges his Coat with an "Escocheon Argent, a Sword and Key in Saltire Gules," as being Constable of Aberdeen: and for a Difference from the Grays, places a Quill or Pen in the Paw of the Lion in the Arms of Gray, because his Ancestor was Sheriff's Clerk of Angus[294].

John Ramsay,

descended of the Ramsays of Wylicleuch in the Merss, who was Page to King James VI. thereafter Earl of Holdernesse, got for addition to his Paternal Bearing, "An Arm holding a naked Sword enfilÉ of a Crown, with a Man's Heart on the point," because he rescued King James VI. from the Conspiracy of the Earl of Gowrie and his Confederates. The Paternal Coat was, "Argent, an Eagle displayed Sable."[295] These are what the Scottish Heralds call "Arms of Special Concession."[296]

Ayton,

of Kippo. This Family bears "A Baton Peri Or, couped;" which, Mr. Nisbet says, is an uncommon Bearing for a younger legitimate Son, it being a mark of Bastardy by its position; but he tells us, the Baton of this description, and thus borne, was granted to Sir John Ayton of Kippo, Knight, by King Charles II. as an Augmentation, because he had been Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod to that King. Upon the Family Coat he therefore carried "A Baton Sable, charged on the top with one of the Lions of England."

Stirling,

of Glorat, carries "Argent, on a Bend engrailed Azure, Three Buckles Or; a Chief Gules, charged with a Naked Arm issuing out of a Cloud from the Sinister side, grasping a Sword in pale, and therewith guarding an Imperial Crown; all within a double Tressure, counterfleured of Thistles Vert." Which honourable Addition was granted to this Family for special Services done to King Charles I. and King Charles II. in their Troubles.

Binning,

of Easter Binning, a Cadet of Binning of that Ilk, who carried "Argent, a Bend engrailed Sable," added, for Difference, on the Bend, a Waggon of the first, because he and his seven Sons went in a Waggon covered with Hay, and surprised and took the Castle of Linlithgow, then in the possession of the English, in the Reign of David the Bruce[297].

Lockart.

This Name now bears a Man's Heart Proper, within a Padlock Sable, in perpetuation, they tell you, that one of the Name accompanied the good Sir James Douglas to Jerusalem, with the Heart of King Robert the Bruce. Be that as it may, it is intended to play upon the Name; and, to preserve the Story the more entire, some Branches of the Family have strengthened it by the Motto, "Corda serata Pando" [some have it, Fero]. These Devices are differently placed by different Branches; but Mr. Nisbet insinuates[298] that this Bearing is an assumption of a modern date; and that the old Arms were, till within a century before he wrote [1702], "Three Boars' Heads erazed; the Crest, a Dexter Hand holding a Boar's Head erazed, Proper; the Motto, 'Feroci Fortior.'"

Norfolk.

The Duke of Norfolk has an augmentation, viz. an Escocheon Or, in the middle of the Bend, charged with a Demi-Lion Rampant, pierced through the Mouth with an Arrow, within a double Tressure counterfleur'd Gules; which was granted by King Henry VIII. for his services at the Battle of Flodden Field[299].

Besides these and many other Bearings, not at this day easily, if at all, to be accounted for, the Scots have, like ourselves, several that are responsive to the Name. Of these I have selected the few which follow, and have given their material Charge, without attending to the Colours, or to the Blazonry of the whole. Thus

Cockburn has a Charge of Three Cocks.

Craw and Craufurd, Three Crows[300].

Fraser, Three Frases or Cinquefoils.

Falconer, a Falcon.

Forester, Three Bugle Horns; and the Peer of that Name and Title has for his Motto, "Blow, Hunter, thy Horn."

Heart, Three Men's Hearts.

Hog, Three Boars' Heads.

Justice, A Sword in Pale, supporting a Balance.

Skene, Three Daggers, in the Scottish Language called Skenes.